The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-08
STRUNG UP ON A TREE.
THE LYNcHiN6 or A MURDERER
CARRIED OUT WITH PRECISION.

SAhHiep OUI WITH PRECISION.
a Score OF Masked Men Use Battsring
Ram en- the JAN Door in Corning.
Drag Forth John n. Mckenzie and
Hang Him Up-The Work OF Master
Hand.
CORNING, Iowa, April John Mo-
Kenzie, the murderer of John H. Riggs,
was taken from the Jail by q party Of
masked men and hanged to q tree In
front Of the jail The two principals
were neighboring farmers near Eureka,
eight miles north Of Corning. Mckenzie
had leased about twelve acres of corn
land last year from Riggs from field Of
perhaps thirty acres, Riggs farming the
remainder Mckenzie did not utilize
the stalks for fodder until after March l
Of this year, when crop leases expire
under the Iowa law, and on his then at
tempting to turn cattle In the fodder
Riggs objected because there was no
division fence, and the cattle would over
run his fields Riggs had sought legal
counsel, and in accordance with 1t he
locked the gate to the field with
q paddock the morning Of March 8.
Soon after Mckenzie arrived with
his cattle. Having been informed by his
hired man the gate was locked, he was on
horseback, armed with revolver. To
Riggs he said: "I'n give you just three
minutes to open that gate" There were
no witnesses, but from McKenzie's own
version Riggs started toward the gate,
when Mckenzie fired, not to hit, but to
scare him, as he says. Riggs stopped
and faced Mckenzie, who Immediately
shet at him, the ball penetrating below
the eye and killing him. Mckenzie came
TO Corning and gave himself up as coolly
as though he had killed neighbours dog.
Rumors of lynching have been In the
air for week and Jailer Dugald Pumroy
had armed guards for several nights, but
Mckenzie protested against any such ne
cessity, and they were discontinued. The
cells occupy the east end Of the second
story Of the substantial stone jail. Jailer
Pumroy and wife slept In q bedroom
In the west end, with an iron door facing
the stairway. About 800 q. m. about
| twenty five armed and masked horsemen
and q wagon loaded with men and
battering ram appeared In front Of
the Jail, moving with strict military
discipline under orders from bold and
skillful leader. When awakened by them
Jailer Pumroy found he had been looked
In his room by the hasp and staple on the
iron door. He fired three guns of alarm
| from the window, and McKenzie's voice
was heard In an unnatural, terrifying
cry. Shots through his window quieted
him. Mounted pickets were placed about
the block designated by numbers and
with soldier-like demsanor. Approach
ing citizens were quietly arrested, but
permitted to observe the proceedings un-
der guard. The thunder of the battering-
ram and the splintering of the doors gave
way to the rafting of the ram on the
iron doors. Then the jailer was over
powered. The keys were found and the
work Of unlocking proceeded as by men
familiar with the details Mckenzie was
heard to exclaim: IF there are any old
soldiers among you let them step forward
first" He was tied and rope thrown
about his neck. His intense nerve and
grit did not forsake him. He talked
with the mob as they took him down.
stairs and across the street to q
maple tree, asked him to give his
watch to his wife, protested he had
killed no other man than Riggs, and did
not intend to kill him. To one Weakened
from peaceful slumbers to look out upon
stern men dragging forth fellow-man
even though q murderer, to see him lifted
into the air, held while struggling, and
guarded until the straAgulation was COM
plete, was indeed horrifying Before dis
sembling the leader addressed the mob In
q low voice, saying:
Gentlemen: The work of this night
must remain forever secret. Let every
participant and every observer take warn
ing from the man hanging to this tree.
The fate of any man who divulges the
name Of any participant will be as his
fate.
AL departed excepting half a dozen
horsemen, who kept guard for half an
hour, fired two shots, and rode rapidly
away to the northward. The identity of
no participant was discovered. as they
were completely masked and disguised
their voices, excepting the leader, who
was bold and careless. He is supposed to
be q stranger. BY some 1t is thought
he is the man who conducted the
lynching of the Jellison murderers In Au-
dubon county, and who might have been
hired to organize, drill and conduct the
lynching. 1t was thoroughly planned,
and no blame Is attached to any officer.
The coroner's verdict was:
"John II. Mckenzie came to his death
by strangulation at the hands of infuri-
ated persons to us unknown, caused as
we verify believe by the hardness of our
courts of justice"
While little regret Is heard, this verdict
does not voice universal public sentiment,
for there had been no legal delay In his
case. He was indicted and arraigned last
week. three weeks after the commission
of the crime, and his trial set for the
May term Of court. The lynching was
doubtless melted largely by the long time
occupied in the trial, rehearing, etc., of
Perrigo, who killed Hidinger in this
county four years ago, and who is not yet
sentenced.